California Dems Whine Over Their Lost Paychecks While GOP Sucks it Up

California lawmakers' failure to come up with a viable budget halted their paychecks this week.

After Gov. Jerry Brown rejected what he called a gimmick-laden spending plan, state Controller John Chiang cut off the lawmakers' pay, saving the state about $400 per legislator per day.

Though both Brown and Chiang are Democrats, Democratic lawmakers -- holding majorities in both the state Assembly and state Senate -- decried the move, blamed everyone but themselves for the latest budget impasse, and threatened lawsuits to get their money.

By contrast, Republican legislators remained stoic about the situation, urging Democrats to sharpen their pencils and get back to work.

I'm not going to complain about it or bring it up," Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, said of the pay cutoff.

California voters cut lawmakers some slack last year when they passed Proposition 25, which requires only a simple majority (instead of a two-thirds supermajority) to enact a budget. In exchange for that lower threshold, the proposition allows the state to withhold lawmakers' pay if they don't come up with a realistic budget by June 15.

California lawmakers, who work year-round, earn $95,291 annually, the highest legislative pay in the country.